From sitting in back-to-back meetings to juggling obligations in our busy personal lives, it can be easy to put self-care on the back burner. But in reality, the little things we do to take care of ourselves add up in the long run.
We asked our community of Arootah experts to share the non-negotiable habits and routines they use to care for their health and mental well-being.
Which of these will you try?
Getting Centered — Mentally, Emotionally, Physically, Spiritually
“I wake up 30 to 40 minutes before my husband and kids to center myself with a morning ritual. I make sure to cover my mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual buckets. For the mental, I read a few pages of a book or watch an online course for a few minutes. For the emotional, I journal what’s bothering me or do EFT tappings to lower my stress levels. For the physical, I stretch or do a one-minute exercise to wake up my body. For the spiritual, I sit in silence for a minute or two, listen to Solfeggio beats to raise my frequency, and look at my vision board and say affirmations.”
— Olga Epstein, health and mindset coach
Staying Grateful, Hydrated, and in Motion
“I find the best way for me to start the day is grateful, well-hydrated, and moving my body and spirit. I do a prayer of gratitude, identifying at least three things I’m grateful for. I drink 16 ounces of spring water with freshly squeezed lemon juice on an empty stomach. And I do five minutes of yoga stretching. I add onto my morning routine with 30 to 60 minutes of fasted cardio at least every other day…walking/jogging on a treadmill, the elliptical, or an outdoor walk.”
— Alana Rose Scheduch, certified yoga instructor
Prayer and Meditation
“Pray that I continue to be a light in the world and meditate on surrender — knowing all is well.”
— Alesia New, licensed dietitian and nutritionist
“Presencing,” Phone-Free Walks, and a Puppy
“I spend the first 20 minutes of my day ‘presencing’ [a combination of staying present and sensing]. That can look like meditation, but since I’ve gotten a puppy, it looks like staring into his eyes. First thing in the morning, I also take a phone-free walk and pop a few gummy vitamins … a sweet way to start the day, literally. I practice a skincare routine, nourish my body with mushroom drinks, and set a large bottle of water on my work desk at night, so when I slide into a morning meeting, I have water within arm’s reach.”
— Laxmi Dady, organizational development coach
Setting an Intention
“I start every day with a tall glass of lemon water (sometimes with chia seeds). I recently started using a tongue scraper and that has also become a non-negotiable for me. After that, I focus on skincare and use an ice roller on my face to wake up my skin and de-puff. I go out for iced coffee every morning which gets me outside for some fresh air and a change of scenery. On my way to get coffee, I like to listen to energizing music. Before work, I set an intention for the day.”
— Shayla Kelly, social media & marketing manager
Clean, Calm, Clarity
“I must take care of myself before I can take care of anyone or anything else. I start by brushing my teeth and cleaning my mouth with a tongue scraper. Warm water with lemon comes next to stoke my digestive fire. I love playing calming music and lighting incense before a sun-facing meditation.”
— Elaine Moen, director of Wellness Relations, clinical Ayurvedic practitioner
Journaling Practice
“My journaling practice. It’s often the thing I want to do least — especially on mornings when I’m running late — but I find it’s what benefits me most. I love to make a matcha latte and soak up the morning sun on my balcony while I scrawl across the page, even if it’s only for a few minutes.”
— Megan Sobieski, director of content